Chapter 4: Untold Stories: An Examination of Selected Experiences of Black Male Graduate Students at an Ivy League Institution

This chapter examines the experiences of two Black male graduate students enrolled in a master’s degree program at an Ivy League institution. In this chapter, we sought to understand why these Black males, with high postbaccalaureate aspirations, locate their perceptions of academic and professional achievement within highly selective institutions. In guiding this study, we investigated (a) what compelled them to apply to an Ivy League institution?; (b) how they felt their past experiences as a student affected their ability to navigate the graduate program?; (c) how they characterized their academic experience in their graduate program (e.g., professor-student relationships, classroom participation, and peer-to-peer interactions)?; and (d) how they have benefited from an Ivy League degree?